Coastal Shore Stewardship

A Guide for Planners, Builders and Developers

This guide often refers to coastal shores as living systems. The planning and development of coastal areas requires a careful understanding of how these systems work. Shores usually change very gradually, but occasionally these changes are dramatic and seemingly unpredictable. We may not be able to forecast the timing or severity of storms or beach erosion but we have a good idea of what can be done to reduce the impacts on people, plants and wildlife. That is what this guide is all about.

Shores have structure, function and process. They are constantly moving, changing and evolving in response to the influence of such external natural forces as winds and tides. The form and dynamics of the physical shore create the conditions for the presence and survival of B.C.’s coastal plant and animal communities. If these biological resources are to be sustained and the integrity of our coastal ecosystems maintained, we must be careful how we use our shores. A cautious approach to development of our coastline recognizes that “when an activity raises threats of harm to the environment or human health, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically.”

• Internet Resources

  Government-Federal
  Environment Canada http://www.ec.gc.ca/envhome.html
  Ocean Disposal  http://www.pyr.ec.gc.ca/EN/ocean-disposal/index_e.htm
  Septic Maintenance: Pure and Simple  http://www.rem.sfu.ca/FRAP/p&s.pdf
  Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency  http://www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca
  Cumulative Effects Assessment Practitioners Guide  http://www.ceaa.gc.ca/0011/0001/0004/index_e.htm
  Environmental Assessment: Making a Difference  http://www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca
  Guide to the Preparation of a Comprehensive Study  http://www.ceaa.gc.ca/0011/0001/0003/comps_e.htm
  Reference Guide: Determining Whether a Project is likely to Cause
  Significant Adverse Environmental Effects  http://www.ceaa.gc.ca/0011/0001/0008/guide3_e.htm#Reference%20Guide
  The Citizen.s Guide: Canadian Environmental Assessment Process  http://www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/0011/0001/0002/guide_e.htm
  Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Pacific Region  http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pages/default_e.htm
  Canadian Waters . The Dock Primer  http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/canwaters-eauxcan/infocentre/guidelines-conseils/guides/dock-primer/big_dock_e.asp
  Coast Guard . Office of Boating Safety  http://www.pacific.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/obs/index.htm
  DFO Marine Guides/Fact Sheets  http://www-heb.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/english/publications.htm#Guidelines
  Habitat and Enhancement Branch  http://www-heb.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/
  Marine Guide to Preventing Shoreline Erosion  http://www-heb.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/publications/pdf/erosion_e.pdf Marine Guide to Small Boat Moorage  http://www-heb.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/publications/pdf/moorage_e.pdf
  Navigable Waters Protection Division  http://www.pacific.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/index.htm
  Salish Sea: A Handbook for Educators http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/salishsea/default_e.htm
  What you should know about Fish Habitat and Dredging  http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/regions/CENTRAL/pub/fact-fait/fact-fait_e.htm
  Government of Canada Legislative Summaries (SARA)  http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/Bills_ls.asp?lang=E&ls=c5&source=library_prb&Parl=37&Ses=1
  Natural Resources Canada  http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/
  Geological Survey of Canada  http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/gsc/index_e.html

  Government-Provincial (and Washington State)
  BC Environmental Assessment Office http://www.eao.gov.bc.ca
  Guide to the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Process (January 2001)-http://www.eao.gov.bc.ca/publicat/guide-2003/guide-home.htm
  BC Fisheries Act  http://www.qp.gov.bc.ca/statreg/stat/F/96149_01.htm
  BC Treaty Commission  http://www.bctreaty.net/
  BC Waste Management Act Finfish Aquaculture Water Control Regulation  http://www.qp.gov.bc.ca/statreg/reg/W/WasteMgmt/256_2002.htm
  Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries  http://www.gov.bc.ca/agf/
  Fisheries and Aquaculture  http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/fisheries
  FishInfo BC  http://www.bcfisheries.gov.bc.ca/fishinfobc.html
  Ministry of Energy and Mines   http://www.gov.bc.ca/em/
  Ministry of Land, Water and Air Protection (MWLAP)              http://www.gov.bc.ca/wlap/
  Best Management Practices to Protect Water Quality  http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wat/wq/nps/BMP_Compendium/BMP_Introduction/bmphome.htm
  Environmental Impact Study Guideline:
  A Companion Document to the Municipal Sewage Regulation        http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/epd/epdpa/mpp/msreg.html
  Environmental Management/Industrial Waste:
  Pollution Prevention (P2) Planning program   http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/epd/
  Environmental Protection Division  http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/epdiv
  Species and Ecosystems at Risk: A Guidebook for British Columbia  http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/serisk.htm
  Stormwater Planning: A Guidebook for British Columbia  http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/epd/epdpa/mpp/stormwater/stormwater.html
  Ministry of Sustainable Resource (MSRM)  http://www.gov.bc.ca/srm/
  Baynes Sound Shellfish Aquaculture Action Plan            -http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/rmd/coastal/south_island/baynes/index.htm
  British Columbia Biophysical Shores one Mapping System   http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/dss/rpts/BCBiophysicalShore-ZoneMapping.pdf
  British Columbia Marine Ecological Classification System  http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/dss/coastal/bcmec/index.htm
  CRIS Atlas  http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/dss/coastal/mris/coast.htm
  Coastal Planning  http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/rmd/coastal/
  Coastal Data  http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/dss/coastal/index.htm
  Coastal Initiatives  http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/dss/coastal/
  Coastal Resource Information System (CRIS)  http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/dss/coastal/mris/resource.htm
  Decision Support Services . Coastal Initiatives  http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/dss/coastal/
  Endangered Species and Ecosystems  http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/atrisk/
  Resources Information Standards Committee  http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/risc/
  Sensitive Ecosystem Inventory of Southeast Vancouver Island & the Gulf Islands http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/cdc/sei/index.htm
  Resources Information Standards Committee  http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/risc/
  Natural Approaches to Stormwater Management
  Low Impact Development in Puget Sound  http://www.psat.wa.gov/Publications/LID_studies/lid_natural_approaches.pdf
  Washington State Department of Ecology Sea Program  http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/shorelan.html
  Alternative Bank Protection Methods for Puget Sound Shorelines  http://www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0006012a.html
  Guides for Coastal Property Owners  http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/pubs/93-31/intro.html
  Intergovernmental Agencies and Crown Corporations
  Habitat Conservation Trust Fund  http://www.hctf.ca/
  Wild BC  http://www.hctf.ca/wild.htm
  Harbours Ecological Inventory and Rating (HEIR) http://www.veheap.crd.bc.ca/HEIR.htm
  Fraser River Estuary Management Program (FREMP)              -http://www.bieapfremp.org/fremp/managementplan/emp.html
  Land and Water British Columbia Inc.                http://lwbc.bc.ca/
  Tenure/Purchase: Applying for Crown Land Information          -http://www.lwbc.bc.ca/applying_for_land/general_commercial.htm
  Government Municipal
  City of Nanaimo     http://www.city.nanaimo.bc.ca
  Greater Vancouver Regional District   http://www.gvrd.bc.ca
  Islands Trust http://www.islandstrust.bc.ca/
  Regional District of Nanaimo    http://www.rdn.bc.ca
  Regional District of Comox-Stratchcona  http://www.rdcs.bc.ca
  Planning Department   planning@rdcs.bc.ca.
  Land Use Planning  http://www.rdcs.bc.ca/planning/index.html
  Saltspring Island  http://www.islandstrust.bc.ca/islandgovernments/saltspring/saltspring.htm

  Non-Government Organizations
  Animal Wellness Magazine   http://www.animalwellnessmagazine.com
  Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre Oceanlink  http://www.bamfieldmsc.com or info@bamfieldmsc.com
  BC Salmon Farmers Association   http://www.salmonfarmers.org/
  BC Shellfish Growers Association  http://www.bcsga.ca/
  Brant Wildlife Festival   http://www.brantfestival.bc.ca
  Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society BC Chapter  http://www.cpawsbc.org/about/
  Canadian Wildlife Federation    http://www.cwf-fcf.org/
  Oceans Day   http://www.cwf-fcf.org/pages/oceansday02/oday_e.htm
  Center for Watershed Protection Inc., Maryland  http://www.cwp.org/
  Coho Society of the North Shore  http://www.cohofestival.com
  Community Mapping Network  http://www.shim.bc.ca/
  Cowichan Community Land Trust Society  cclt@island.net
  David Suzuki Foundation http://www.davidsuzuki.org
  Ducks Unlimited Canada   http://www.ducks.ca/
  Environmental Educators Provincial Specialist Association  http://www.bctf.ca/eepsa/
  Fraser River Action Plan (FRAP) . BMP Report  http://www.rem.sfu.ca/FRAP/9516.pdf
  Georgia Strait Alliance   http://www.georgiastrait.org
  Living by Water Project  http://www.livingbywater.ca
  Living Oceans Society   http://www.livingoceans.org/
  Marine Ecology Station  http://www.mareco.org/home
  Maurice Jassak Vancouver Photographer  http://www.seevancouverbc.com/
  Roy Henry Vickers Canadian Artist  http://www.royhenryvickers.com/limited_editions/index.html
  SeaChange Marine Conservation Society   http://www.seachangelife.net/
  Shorekeepers. Guide   http://www.keepersweb.org/Shorekeepers
  Stewardship Canada  http://www.stewardshipcanada.ca
  Stewardship Centre for British Columbia  http://www.stewardshipcentre.bc.ca/sc_bc/main/index.asp?sProv=bc
  The Marine and Aquatic Educator.s Resouce Guide  http://www.stewardshipcentre.bc.ca/marineAquaticed/maesearch.asp?sProv=bc&link=0
  Stormwater Manager.s Resource Center  http://www.stormwatercenter.net/
  Vancouver Aquarium Marine Services Online  http://www.vanaqua.org/
  Great Canadian Shore Cleanup  http://www.vanaqua.org/cleanup/
  Veins of Life Watershed Society   http://www.volws.bc.ca/
  Whale Museum Be Whale Wise brochure  http://www.whalemuseum.org/